Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas has come and gone (you're either cheering for joy about this or almost in tears, for me it's tears!). Now that Christmas music is slowly coming to a halt, and you're fully stocked with iTunes cards, the question is, what to listen to? This is what sCe is purchasing with all of her iTunes loot:

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes- Paul Simon

She Makes Me Feel- Mansions on the Moon

Pretty Things- Tony Lucca, Matt Duke, Jay Nash

Basket Case- Sara Bareilles

Breathe Again- Sara Bareilles

Blood Bank Skinny Love Remix- Bon Iver

Honey, I've Been Thinking About You- Jackie Greene

Girl In the Blue Dress- Mike Doughtry (the first line in the song is "frat boys", makes me giggle every time)

Back In Love- LTD

These Are My People- Rodney Atkins

Best of My Love- The Emotions (total classic)

The Weight- The Band

Do you like any of these? I'd say I have a pretty good variety going, but I would love recommendations! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Linus: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Along with the Christmas season comes a whole other season for sorority and fraternity members: The Christmas Cocktail. Seeing at my school, they are semi-formal and most every sorority and fraternity has their own. The short three weeks of school between Thanksgiving and Christmas have your social calendar booked with different things to attend. The best part? Getting all dressed up of course! Who doesn't like throwing on a good little cocktail dress and heels? I know I definitely do! Here are the dresses of the 2010 Christmas cocktails:

I felt as though the color and the bow was very holiday appropriate.I got the "you look like a present" comment quite frequently.

Short and tight was the motto of the night. Hey, you're only young once...

Last but most definitely not least, the blue asymmetrical frock. Loved the color and loved the cut, unfortunately, there are no pictures that show the dress off... My camera was sadly not in attendance at this little soiree.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Christmas is only 4 days away! I can hardly believe it! If you are running around like a crazy person trying to get everything done for the big day, take some time to relax and truly enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. I love the Christmas season the most, probably even more than Christmas day itself. So, let yourself enjoy the next few days leading up to Christmas. Turn up the Christmas music, eat more candy canes, drink as much egg nog as possible, and turn your fire on and enjoy time admiring your beautifully decorated tree! Here are my top Christmas songs--every year, I make family members a mix of my Christmas favorites, hand it out on Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season and it's a huge hit. Here are some of the songs that made the 2010 playlist:

The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis

Silent Night- Frank Sinatra

Christmastime Is Here (instrumental)- Vince Guaraldi Trio(one of my all time favorites)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

Recap:

The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland, Meet Me In St. Louis

Silent Night- Frank Sinatra

Christmastime Is Here (instrumental)- Vince Guaraldi Trio(one of my all time favorites)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

What are some of you favorite Christmas songs? Have a great day enjoying the Christmas season!
Yours,
sCe

I wore this to a cocktail party over Thanksgiving break! LOVE this top! cCm and I both have had it for about 2 or 3 years now. I think 2 years ago we both wore this outfit for our Christmas card picture!

I wore this on Thanksgiving! The skirt looks black but it's actually a wool blackwatch plaid. I LOVE this skirt and got it at Nordstrom several years ago. I also love the belt, you can't tell in the picture but the belt has martini glasses and olives all over it!

Crest Oxford: Ralph Lauren, Denim: BCBG, Cowboy boots

I wore this the day after Thanksgiving for a casual family dinner at our house. Adding jewelry and curling my hair dressed it up a little more! If you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of the oxford/skinny jean/boot look. It's comfortable and easy but still looks put together.

And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned

Nothing's ever left you scarred

Even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what is sounded like what your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment

In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder than I thought it would be

So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on

Wish I'd never grown up

I wish I'd never grown up

Oh I don't wanna grow up

Wish I'd never grown up

Could still be little

Oh I don't wanna grow up

It could still be simple

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heat

And even through to you want to, please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up

Just never grow up

As you are reading this, I am finishing up finals week! I feel as though this song goes perfectly with the end of finals week because I only have 3 semesters left of college; only a year and a half! This is crazy to me-- I feel like I just graduated from high school! Sometimes I take college for granted, but I most definitely am in no rush to graduate! As Eloise would say, "I love it too too much!" As I head home to Pittsburgh, I wish everyone safe holiday travels!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

With Christmas just days away, the dress to impress crunch time has begun. I have received many e-mails asking what are some fun outfits for the holidays so I've put together a few looks that I think are great holiday options!

Don't always think that you must wear heels for a dressier function. For the gold dress, these Tory Burch flats work just fine. If you aren't a heel wearing person, or know you won't be able to handle standing for hours in heels, then opt for a dress that works with flats.

For the holidays, or any occassion for that matter, you don't necessarily need to get a new dress. Of course, I always try to get a new one but if you are in a pinch, or pinching pennies, then owning a little black dress in a classic cut that is very well tailored is the way to go. There are so many different ways you can change the look of the dress. These three are tame. If you wanted to go all out, you could try different colored shoes, different colored tights, different wraps, clutches, jewelry, etc. Options are endless in the world of the LBD.When all else fails and you need to repeat a dress, change your hair. Changing your hair gives not only evening wear a different look but can give any outfit for any occasion a different look. If you always wear your hair straight, try curling it or vice versa. For a fun look, try curling your hair and pinning it back and adding an embellished hairpiece.
What are your go to holiday looks?! I must get back to studying-- it's finals weak here! Wish me luck and have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, December 13, 2010

The holiday season is a time when many pictures are taken. Usually, this is when you get your photo taken professionally. This especially applies if you are in high school and thinking about your senior pictures and what you want to wear for them! This is also a time when Christmas cards with family pictures on them get sent out and of course, you want to look your absolute best! Here are my tips for looking great in any photo!

Just because you are getting photographed, that does not mean add extra make-up. Too much bronzer will actually make your fact look larger than in reality.

Keep your clothing simple-- too much will make the photo look too fussy

Just as your clothing, keep your jewelry to a minimum or wear classic pieces only. Too much jewelry will end up looking tacky. However, if you want to wear jewelry, keep it to simple, classic pieces so the picture will be timeless and appeal to all audiences tastes.

Stick to neutral colors. No neon. Think black, navy, deep brown. For the summer go with whites, khakis, or pastels.

Dark top, pearl studs, a little makeup.

Don't go wild with hair styles either. If you wear your hair down and straight, then wear it like that. If you wear it half up and curly usually, then do that. Trying different hair styles is great, but not when you are getting your picture professionally taken!

Do you have any tips for getting your picture taken?! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Friday, December 10, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

This is the time of year when there are lots of parties to be held, dinner parties to entertain, and balls to attend. If you are a guest, it is always a rule (at least for me) to always come to the party with something in tow for the host or hostess. This doesn't have to be anything extravagant; a nice bottle of wine will do. However, if you want to be the guest to remember, then get creative!
Pottery Barn has a lot of great options and they even have a section entirely dedicated to hostess gifts. In my opinion, a hostess gift should be something that a host or hostess would find useful but wouldn't be something they would purchase for themselves. Anything monogrammed gets an A+ in my book.

I love this decanter from Pottery Barn. Perfect for any spirit enthusiast.

I love the idea of giving the host or hostess a baked good that is breakfast friendly. Chances are, the host(ess) will be up late cleaning and will love to have a delicious breakfast already prepared for them in the morning! The above sticky buns are from Williams Sonoma but something baked yourself will be just as appreciated!

This is a great gift option! Monogrammed cutting board is good for a man or a woman and is perfect for a newlywed couple!

Moose Munch- Harry and David. For the most part, Harry and David is a bit overpriced but I LOVE their Moose Munch. Hopefully this doesn't come around the C household ever because I promise you, I will eat it all.

A Tervis Tumbler is always an appropriate choice. I love the personalized ice bucket option!

Other options include:

Fun cheese knives

caspari napkins

wine, champagne or any other drink of choice

wine markers

baked goods

What are your go to host(ess) gifts? I'm always looking for great new ideas! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

With Christmas just a short ways away, those of you looking for something perfect for the men in your life have either had your gift planned for months now, or are now scrambling for the perfect gift. For those of you without a significant other, you can give a sigh of relief. I've always thought that shopping for a guy is a hard thing to accomplish. Of course you can always play it safe and get him a slew of Brooks Brothers button downs, khakis, and ties, but what about if you want to do something different, standout, or special? I have received an overload of e-mails asking what they should get their boyfriends/husbands for Christmas, so here is what I've put together!

For the ski buff:

I am a huge skier; I wish I could go more often than I do, but a little thing called school can sometimes be a hindrance. If he loves skiing:

A nice ski jacket. I have had Spyder jackets for years and I love them. They can be pretty pricey (somewhere upwards of $200) but they are so perfect for skiing and come in really fun colors.

If the jacket isn't in your budget, go with more friendly options such as gloves, hats, and goggles. Patagonia makes great skiing accessories but L.L. Bean is just as great!

As for goggles, they are pricey, but again, he will be thanking you when he hits the slopes. My favorites are Oakley, Scott, Bolle, Smith, Anon, and Giro. You can get a pair for as inexpensive as $50, but if you are taking the goggle route, I would go for the ones that range from $100-$150 because they have the best fit and lens options.

A boot bag, ski duffel, or backpack is another great idea, and you can get one starting at around $50. To add a little more personalization and to make it special, you can have it monogrammed, that way he can always tell his bag apart!

For the Sportsman or Outdoorsman:

This is for the guy who can't get enough of the outdoors or sports.

If he loves to fish go with Costa Del Mar sunglasses or a Columbia PFG shirt

A backpack and LL Bean boots are great for any type of outdoor activity

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

An outfit of the day from several few weeks ago (you can tell because it was still warm enough to wear no tights!). Dress: Ann Taylor, Turtleneck: Gap, Cowboy boots, sunglasses with croakies, and silver jewelry!
Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, December 6, 2010

The Holiday is one of my absolute favorite movies and it only seems appropriate that I do this post around the Christmas season! I have so many reasons as to why I think The Holiday is a great movie but to start off, the story line is adorable. I am really not one to be a sucker for the overly romantic films, but this one just gets to me. The second reason I love this movie so much is Cameron Diaz's incredibly cozy-chic wardrobe. It is filled with cozy sweaters, elegant coats, and lavish boots. Not to mention the interior design of both homes featured in the film. I did a little research and Rosewood Cottage doesn't actually exist. They built the exterior of the cottage and then the interior of the cottage was all a set.

Talk about an adorably cozy cottage. I'm not sure I would love this for my home everyday, but for a weekend getaway, it would be an absolute perfect destination.

This is one of the only shots I could find of the interior, but just look how cozy!

This is one of the many amazing coats that she wears in the film. I did a little bit of

"googling" to find out that a lot of her clothes and shoes are Dior.

This sweater is just perfect! She pulls off the winter white so well!

I will leave you with one of the songs from the movie called "Let Go" by Frou Frou. I think it has been in Grey's Anatomy as well--I just love it!
What are your favorite holiday movies or movies you love just because of the set designs or wardrobing?! Have a fabulous day!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

I've gotten so many e-mail requests and even questions on Tumblr about my Christmas list. Every year I make an extensive list for my parents and family. I put tons of options on the list so I'm somewhat surprised when Christmas rolls around! So here is sCe's Christmas wish list:

L.L. Bean Norwegian Sweater I have been envious of my daddy's for a long time. Unfortunately, they only make this sweater for men so I'll have to wear it as a casual over-sized sweater. This will be perfect for skiing and cold days at school!

New camera since mine is broken!

Brooks Brothers button down shirts. Unfortunately, the women's section doesn't have a lot of winter friendly options so I'm going for the boy's shirts which I've tried on and they actually fit great. I'm going for plaids, gingham, and patterns. These are great for under sweaters, by themselves, or under down or fleece vests. Brooks Brothers also has a great monogramming option for these shirts as well!

Nike Tempo Shorts-- I already have so many pairs and swear by them. One can never have too many pairs!

Brown, leather riding boots. I already have black riding boots and brown leather cowboy boots, so all I need to complete my boot collection is a a brown leather pair!

Monogrammed croakies-- I have so many pairs of croakies but none monogrammed!

LL Bean Trail Model Fleece Pullover -- A very inexpensive fleece option plus it's monogrammable. This is most definitely comparable to the Patagonia T-Snap for a third of the price. I want this in the green color with either a hot pink or navy monogram.

Going out/"trendy" clothes from Forever 21, I've said before that I don't like to spend a lot of money on trendy clothes so Forever 21 is my one stop shop. I always seem to go for the Love21 label because from what I have seen, that is the most conservative and well made. Another trend I've noticed is the "bling" factor-- I can't get enough of sparkles or shiny embellishments.

For the first time in years, I don't have any one "big ticket item" like a laptop or diamonds or something along those lines. I'm keeping it pretty simple this year with clothes and accessories. What's on your Christmas list?! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe